As we say ‘see you later’ (not goodbye!), to the 2021-22 cohort of placement students, we took the opportunity reflect on the past year of their journeys and everything they learnt.

We spoke with James Lenehan, Jessie Wescott and Joseph Connorton and about the life lessons they have learnt during their placement year with us and why they would recommend an internship to other students.

All three individuals have been extremely successful in their placements and are all continuing work for Enterprise, in a part time capacity, whilst they complete their final year of studies.

So, let’s find out exactly what they had to say:

Why did you choose to do a placement? 

James – “During university, I wasn’t sure what career path I wanted to take, participating in a placement year helped me to gain experience of working inside a business, so I could see what I enjoyed and found challenging. It also helped me to develop key skills that I wouldn’t have gained otherwise. Finding a paid placement is a bonus, as it is a great way to develop yourself, whilst earning some extra money for final year”.

Jessie – “The graduate job market, at the moment, is tricky, so I wanted some extra experience to help my application stand out. I knew I wanted to work in the business industry, but I was unsure as to what sector I preferred. Doing a placement year helped me to discover what I was good at and gave me an idea as to what career path I would like to take”.

Joe – “I wanted to return to my final year with a commercial awareness of the industry and a new skill set that would help me in my studies and after I graduate. I chose to do my placement with Enterprise because of the fact it is multi-dimensional, and you learn about all aspects of the business, you aren’t fixed to experiencing just one department”.

What skills do you feel you have learnt from your placement?

Joe – “My confidence skyrocketed by the end of my placement year. The management training I received encouraged me to develop my presentation and public speaking skills, which will help me with my assessments in final year. I was interacting with so many different customers every day, enabling me to develop my communication skills along the way. More specifically, understanding the financial side of the business was something I learnt and will be a great help not only for my studies, but also when I begin my career in the business sector”.

Jessie – “Enterprise helped me to develop my leadership skills and become comfortable with leading a team whilst making tough decisions, which has helped get me out of my comfort zone. Working in a customer service environment naturally comes with challenges but working in this industry for the last year has helped me develop my communication skills and a strong work ethic. I agree with Joe, I also struggled with the financial side of business, so the training I received on this was very useful”.

What did you enjoy the most?

James – “The thing I enjoyed most was working in a great atmosphere with a diverse range of people. I made a lot of friendships during my time at Enterprise, and it made coming to work enjoyable, something which was so important for me. Enterprise is a very sociable place to work, where you regularly go out with your team or attend regional activities. As a student, I wanted to maintain a social life outside of work, so this was great for me. It is true when they say it is a fun and friendly place to work!”

Jessie – “The people that I worked with made the experience for me. Everyone that works for Enterprise has a drive to succeed, so it makes it easy to develop friendships and connections that will last for life. You are given captaincies for certain business areas each month, which is a great way to develop new skills and responsibilities, every day is different and you aren’t stuck in a mundane routine behind a desk”.

Joe – “The social aspect was the best part for me, regularly getting to go out with my team and others in the area. Each area puts on competitions surrounding sales performance and other targets, hitting these meant you were able to go on paid days out with the other winners from your area. This created healthy competition and really pushed me to do my best at work. As well as this, I really enjoyed serving different customers and meeting people from all walks of life”.

What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

Jessie – “Transitioning from university life to the working world was challenging at first, it took some getting used to. Enterprise is so supportive and put a big focus on maintaining work/life balance for everyone, so this is something I managed to get adapt to and developed a routine that was best for me. At first, it seems overwhelming as there is so much to learn, but the captaincies really allow you to get stuck into every area of the business and learn on the job”.

Joe – “Working in a sales role is something I had never experienced, so working to targets and handling rejection was challenging for me. The training I received from management team helped me to become more emotionally resilient and better at objection handling. I eventually became a lot more confident with sales and it is now an aspect of my role that I really enjoy”.

How did Enterprise help support your development throughout?

James – ‘You get extensive training throughout your placement and have a structured training folder that you work through with the help of your management team and a mentor. Enterprise is so supportive and all the resources you need are available when requested”.

Jessie – “The management training folder helps you work towards your goals and develop yourself whilst staying on track. I had a great relationship with my management team, which I felt very lucky to have, as I was always given the help and support I needed. Between them and my mentor, I always had someone to turn to if I needed advice or guidance”.

Joe – “The promote from within culture means that everyone you work with started at the same level as you, so all management has walked in your shoes and understands the training. I struggled with the finance side of the business when I first started, so my previous assistant manager would always create quizzes for me to work through so I could better understand that aspect of the business. I ended up passing that section in my training with over 90%, so it just goes to show how much time and effort is put into your development”.

Would you recommend a placement year to other students?

James – “Absolutely, I have grown so much as a person, I’ve matured and developed skills that I didn’t even realise I had. It has given me a much clearer perspective of what I want to do when I graduate from university, and I have security as I know I will have a full-time position at Enterprise when I graduate.”

Jessie – “Yes, because you learn so much. A placement year helps you develop key employability skills, as well as helping you stand out to future employers. After a year with Enterprise, I have worked in customer service, sales, marketing, finance and HR, the experience is unmatched. I also got the opportunity to enter the Enterprise Intern of the Year competition and I won! I walked away with the title and £5,000!”

What is the best tip you can give to students who are about to undertake a placement year?

Joe – ‘Don’t be scared to ask questions, it is how you learn at the end of the day. The second you stop asking questions, you stop learning. Be confident, don’t be scared to dive in, ask for help and take initiative. It is OK to make mistakes, it is how you learn from them that is important”.

Jessie – “Don’t be disheartened about rejections as you apply for placement opportunities and stay positive. Make sure you are prepping for interviews and making use of your university careers and placements team. Don’t get demotivated too quickly and stay driven!”

James – “Push yourself out your comfort zone, try new things and always ask questions. Just enjoy the journey!”

If you’re interested in joining Enterprise for a fun filled year that will put ahead of the competition when you graduate browse our website for placement opportunities.